Public Relations with New Media (MA)

Course Code

Field of Study

Type of Course:

Type of Qualification:

Type of Study:

Application Closing Date:

Admission Requirements:

Entry requirements for this course will be in accordance with standard Institute admissions procedures. Entrants will be expected to hold minimum of a 2.2 honours degree.

Admission to the course will be on the basis of interview. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be applicable for candidates entering from the workplace or applying for admission from other institutes.

Professional Accreditation: Training Awards Council (HETAC) and the Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII).

ECTS Credits: 90

Course summary

This innovative MA programme offers the opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of public relations as a form of communication and pays particular attention to the growing importance of digital and interactive media on the practice of public relations and professional communications.

Course fee

Union of Students in Ireland (USI) Levy
The USI membership levy of €7.00 has been introduced as a result of a referendum where students opted to affiliate to the national Students’ Union. This levy must be paid before the start of Semester 1.

Who can apply?

Students electing to study Public Relations at postgraduate level typically come from a range of academic and professional backgrounds. Some already work in the PR sector or in related fields such as marketing, sales and advertising. Some students have recently completed undergraduate degrees in a wide range of disciplines and are looking to move into the PR or the professional communications sector. Others work or have experience in organisations placing great importance on the need to communicate with their various stakeholders or are looking to enhance career prospects within their current employment by developing real communications expertise. In short, there is no typical student – just students who share certain interests and career aspirations.

What is Public Relations?

Public Relations is the management of all relationships and communication within an organisation and between an organisation and its outside audiences. To this end the public relations function pays particular attention to reputation with a view to creating better understanding of the organisation among all stakeholders.

What is New Media?

‘New Media’ is a term that describes the emergence of digital, computerised, interactive communication technologies. Interactivity is a key aspect of many new media tools and this course focuses on how organisations are using these interactive media to communicate with stakeholders such as customers through the use of the worldwide web etc. The global reach of new media communications technologies has important implications for the practice of public relations and this course focuses on the changing nature of corporate and professional communications as a result of the rapid advances in digital technologies.

Overview

The course aims to provide students with a strategic and systematic understanding of the theory and practice of public relations and offers students the opportunity to develop their professional communication skills within a challenging, supportive and easily accessible framework. This innovative MA programme offers the opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of public relations as a form of communication and pays particular attention to the growing importance of digital and interactive media on the practice of public relations and its manifold impacts on the mass media industry.

By developing student’s research, planning, managerial and multimedia skills the course aims to produce graduates who can display leadership and show the capacity for innovation within the dynamic and fast evolving professional communications industry. Course content focuses strongly on PR tools and techniques, particularly within the growing new media environment, and on the increasing globalisation and convergence of the media industries.

Through liaison with PR professionals and by working on ‘live’ industry projects, the course aims to equip graduates with the knowledge, skills and competencies required to effectively function as a public relations professional in an era of high-speed and interactive digital communications.

Mentorship

From September 2019, students will participate in the Public Relations Mentorship Programme. This programme aims to prepare students for a career in the communications industry through a series of presentations and one-to-one contact with industry professionals. Students will prepare a career development plan, liaise with the CIT Careers Service, participate in professional networking, both on and offline and develop important career oriented skillsets aimed at enhancing employability and career prospects.

Course Structure Part Time:
Part-time students take modules on a phased basis and achieve the programme qualification over a number of academic years.Applicants may choose to undertake this programme on a part-time basis. Part-time students take modules on a phased basis and achieve the programme qualification over a number of academic years. Please e-mail fees@cit.ie for course fee information.

Please note that applicants will be required to pay an acceptance fee of €455 online if a place on a course is offered. This fee is deductible from the overall course fee. You will not be charged for applying for the programme by clicking the 'apply now' button, you are only asked to pay an acceptance fee if a place is offered to you and you wish to accept it.